bear-hugged

verb

past tense of bear-hug
as in hugged
to put one's arms around and press tightly elated team members bear-hugging everyone in sight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bear-hugged Running back Isaac Guerendo returned to practice Tuesday and twice ran into the line only to be bear-hugged by Warner, who followed orders and did not tackle to the ground. — Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear-hugged
  1. hugged
  2. clasped
Verb
  • The beach is the stuff of postcards and paintings, hugged by cliffs with improbably radiant aquamarine water and a giant conical rock formation right in the middle of the bay.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The dynamic duo giggled and hugged as curious onlookers took out their iPhones and started snapping away.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of hugged
Verb
  • Davis stood with his lawyer as the verdict was read, then sat with his hands clasped on the table.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The new mothers clasped their babies close as a pack of teenagers ran through the park.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of clasped

Browse Nearby Words

bear-hug
bear-hugged
bear-hugging
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Cite this Entry

“Bear-hugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear-hugged. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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